Unanswered - Ministry Exchange (MX)

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Unanswered Unanswered
by Curtis Chang
Props: Lunch bag with carrot sticks and milk carton. Apron (for Mom). Newspaper. Jacket.
Teen 1 coming in with paper lunch bag: Mom, what was the deal with lunch today? Carrot sticks?
Milk? I specifically asked you for more Ding Dongs and Jolt. Did you not hear me?
Mom: Honey, I saw the results from your last visit to the dentist. Ten more cavities is not a good
sign. I've been telling you for a while that you need to change your diet or you'll be running out of
healthy teeth. (hands over sheet) I've made out a new list of healthy lunch snacks that you can ask
for. I want you to...
Teen 1 (impatiently glances and tosses aside): Yeah, yeah. Ok what about Snickers bars. They're
good for you. All those nuts, I need my protein!
Mom: They're not on the list.
Teen 1: Man, I never get anything good! Look, I need my Jolt for lunch. Mr. Belmont's Algebra
class is after lunch and I always fall asleep in his class if I don't get my hit of Jolt. My algebra
textbook is already almost unreadable because of the drool. Come on!
Mom: Look, that's another thing we need to talk about. You've been staying up until 3am doing
that surfing thing on the computer and playing computer games. That's why you're so tired during
the day. I am not going to give you unnatural shots of sugar and caffeine just so you can keep on
wasting your nights like this. You need to....
Teen 1 (mimicking mother while she talks): Please, I can do without the guilt trip, OK? Look, are
you going to pack what I want or not for lunch?
Mom: Honey, we need to talk about what is best for you in the long....
Teen 1: Ok, fine. Don't pack me a lunch for tomorrow. Or the day after and the day after that for
that matter. I'll buy what I want at the cafeteria with my own money. (storms out).
Teen 1 passes by Dad reading newspaper without a word. Dad puts down paper.
Dad: Dear, come back here. You're never home. Once you come back from school, you're
alwayas getting ready to head out again. We haven't talked in ages. I want to hear how you are
doing.
Teen 1: Look can't this wait?
Dad: Well, I really would like to spend some time with you.
Teen 1: Ok, Ok. (she sits in silence for a while)

Dad: So, tell me how things are at school. I've noticed you coming back often seeming like you had
a bad day.
Teen 1: No, I'm fine. Oh, hey, I forgot to ask you, the chain on my bike fell off. Its a real hassle
'cause I want to ride over to Tania's party tonight. Can you fix it? I've got to leave in half an
hour.
Dad: Well, I would rather talk with you during that time. Besides, I don't want you riding your bike
tonight. This is Boston in November, honey, its 10 degrees outside and there's ice on the raod.
Why don't I drive you over there. We can talk on the way and besides, I haven't seen Tania or any
of your friends in ages.
Teen 1 winces: Ah, no. Dad, no offense but no one goes to parties with their Dads. Look, I think
I'll just walk if you're not going to fix the bike.
Teen 1 walks across stage, cleary shivering. Slips and falls. Arrives at party.
Tania welcomes her at door. Exchanges greetings. She spots Anne and storms over to her.
Teen 1: Hey, Anne, where were you today? You promised you'd give me a ride home after school
today! I ended up having to walk all the way home in the cold! I was depending on you!
Anne: What do you mean? Where were you? I waited in the parking lot for a whole hour for you.
How long did you wait?
Teen 1: Uh, well, a few minutes at least. You weren't there so I thought you'd forgot.
Anne: You know me, I wouldn't forget you like that. I told you that I'd come as soon as my class
was over. I told you that we had a test today so you might have to wait a little bit. I was probably
there right after you left.
Teen 1: Well, you didn't say exactly how long you were going to be! How was I supposed to know
to keep waiting? What if you had forgotten? Then I'd have waited outside forever. I need
something I can depend on. Forget it, I'll just use my bike from now on. (Storms off)
Tania: Hey, what's going on with you? You seem so upset!
Teen 1: Well, its just I'm starting to realize some things about people.
Tania: What do you mean?
Teen 1: Well, they just let you down. You can't depend on them. They don't do what you ask
them to or what they promise to do. The only person you can depend on is yourself.
Tania: Gosh, that sounds like such a sad and lonely way to live. What makes you so sure you can't
depende on anyone else?
Teen 1: Look, I know. I've tried.